Nick Meets the Sidles
Pairing: Sara and Nick (Snickers)
Sara and Nick arrive at her parents' Bed and Breakfast. Nick has an encounter with Fowl Mouth the parrot.
Disclaimer: I don't own any CSI characters, only my original characters. I wouldn't mind owning Nick though!
Entering Insanity
When Sara and Nick arrived at the Bed and Breakfast, it was still daylight. She found a parking space that was near the building. Nick was the first to get out of the car with Sara next. They met at the back of the Tahoe to take out their bags. Sara locked the doors and followed Nick to the Bed and Breakfast.
"Can I help you?" a woman in her early 40s asked.
"Yes, we have a reservation under Sidle-Stokes," Nick said.
"Sidle, that's the name of the owners," the woman said. "Is their daughter with-"
"Hi Joyce!" Sara said as she entered the building and stood next to Nick.
"Sara, I didn't know you were going to stay here," Joyce said. "Who is this handsome guy with you?"
"This is my boyfriend, Nick Stokes," Sara smiled.
"I see that Michael and Alexandra's daughter has good taste in men," Joyce beamed.
"Thanks," Sara smiled and she gave Nick a gentle peck on the cheek.
"One thing that I am curious about," Joyce looked confused. "Why are you reserving a room here when you have your own at the house?"
"When I moved to San Francisco to work for the SFPD," Sara said. "Mom and dad turned my room into their personal yoga studio. My brother's room is their meditation area. So we are treated like guests instead of family."
So that's how it is in her family, Nick thought. At least my parents kept my room they way I left it when I joined the Dallas Police Department. They still kept it like that even after I moved to Las Vegas. I think they will change it after I get married. I definitely should have a talk with Sara tonight.
"You'll be in room number 8," Joyce said. "There will be a breakfast buffet tomorrow from 7-9 featuring an omelet bar. Enjoy your stay."
"We will, thanks," Nick said as he and Sara went to find their room.
"Wow, this room is one of the best in the bed and breakfast," Sara said. "I can't believe they would do that for us."
"Sara, you are the owners' daughter," Nick said. "I am sure that it's a privilege itself."
"Nick, let's just get settled in," Sara said. "You have been lugging our bags from the Tahoe to here. I want you to rest for a while before we to go to my parents' house."
"Fine, Nurse Sidle," Nick said as he lay on the bed. "This bed is so comfortable, I could fall asleep for the rest of the day."
"Nicholas Anthony Stokes, don't get too comfortable yet," Sara said. "We have to go see my parents. I am not sure if we having dinner there or we have to go out at a nearby restaurant."
"Okay, I won't," he chuckled.
Sara took out her cell phone and dialed her parents' number and waited.
"Mom, this is Sara," she said.
"Hi, Sara, did you bring your boyfriend?" Alexandra asked in a saccharine tone.
"He is here with me," Sara replied. "We just got into the room. When do you want us to come over to the house?"
"Come in an hour," Alexandra said.
"We'll be there," Sara said.
"Sara, make sure Nick uses a condom," Alexandra smirked. "I just don't want another grandchild, yet."
"I'll tell him," Sara blushed. "We'll see you then."
"Bye," Alexandra said.
They hung up and Sara charged her cell phone. Her mood went from somewhat happy to somewhat upset. Nick got up from the bed and immediately picked up on Sara's mood change.
"Sara, what's wrong?" he asked not caring about what time he was going to meet her parents.
"I just spoke to my mom," she replied. "She wants us to come in about an hour. That's not the point. She told me to tell you to use a condom since she isn't ready to be a grandmother again."
"Sara, I don't believe that woman," Nick cringed. "Just because we are dating doesn't mean we are doing it. I love and respect you too much. We'll do it when the timing is right and we're ready for it. Besides, when we go to their house, I will show them that I am a wonderful Texas gentleman who would never take advantage of their daughter."
She smiled at Nick's last statement. He knew exactly how to make her feel better if she was in a rotten mood. That was what she especially loved about Nick Stokes amongst other things. She sat on the bed and Nick joined her. He pulled her into an embrace and gave her a back rub.
"You know how much I love it when you do that," Sara purred.
"I love giving you backrubs," Nick smiled.
"I love you, Nick," Sara moaned with pleasure.
"I love you, too, Sara," Nick said.
He gingerly released her and turned on the television to the Discovery Channel. They were showing a program on forensics.
"Come on, Cowboy, there are other channels besides this one," Sara chuckled.
"Hey, this is very interesting," Nick protested. "It's about something we do for a living."
"Nicky, we're supposed to be on vacation," Sara said.
"This coming from a woman who more than a year ago I told she should get out more often," Nick laughed and felt a swat in his arm. "Sara, that hurts."
"It serves you right to say something like that," Sara said. "Let's watch the program. At least it will give me something to take my mind off that phone call."
After the show ended Sara looked at the clock and saw that she and Nick had to go to her parents' place. She looked at him and he knew that it was time for them to leave. They got up from the bed. Sara fixed her hair while Nick grabbed their jackets and gave Sara hers. They left the room and locked the door. A few moments later, they were at the door of her parents' house. Sara took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Nick sensed her discomfort and put his hand on her back. The door opened and a woman in her mid-fifties opened and looked at Sara then Nick.
"Hey mom, are you going to stare at us?" Sara asked. "Or are you going to let us in?"
"First, introduce me to this man and I'll let both of you in," Alexandra said.
So, this is what Sara had to deal with growing up, Nick thought. I haven't even been formally introduced and already I don't like this woman. Stokes, try to be civil, this is the mother of your girlfriend.
"Mom, this is my boyfriend, Nick Stokes," Sara said. "Nick, this is my mom."
"Pleased to meet you," Nick said successfully maintaining his civility.
"I finally get to meet the man that has flirted with my daughter for the past few years," Alexandra said. "Now you are dating her. Still, I want you to use a condom."
Nick started to lose a tiny bit of his civility. He looked at Sara and wondered how a woman like her could have a mother like Alexandra. Maybe that woman meant well with that condom remark, but it was still uncalled for. He and Sara weren't having sex at all and didn't want to ruin their relationship with doing something that was too premature.
"Sara, let's get inside the house," Nick said. "Besides, I smell cornbread baking."
As they entered the house, a man around Alexandra's age approached the three people.
"Hey, aren't you Nick Stokes?" the man asked Nick. "The guy who's going out with my daughter and works with her."
"Yes, I am," Nick said. "Are you her dad?"
"Of course, I am," the man said. "I am Michael and you have just met my wife Alexandra. Sara told me you are from Texas. Where in Texas you are from?"
"I was born and raised in Dallas," Nick replied. "I worked for the Dallas Police department for four years before I moved to Vegas/"
Sara sensed that her father was to going to say something completely idiotic and potentially embarrassing. He had been like that with her friends and whenever she brought home a prospective boyfriend to meet him and Alexandra.
"Nick, does your family own an oilfield in Texas?" Michael asked.
Sara gave Nick a pleading look not to answer that question. He sensed her embarrassment and gave her a look saying that things are going to be okay. He was mad at her father for assuming that because he's from Texas meant his family got rich on oil. In fact, he came from a long line of people working in the legal field, law enforcement and education. How would Michael Sidle like it if Nick asked him a question stereotyping Californians?
"No, they don't own any oilfields," Nick said bluntly.
"Dad, I am going to give Nick a tour of the house," Sara said trying to salvage a situation that obviously got Nick a little upset.
"Just watch out for Fowl Mouth," Michael warned with a smirk. "He is a little bastard of a parrot."
"We'll be careful," Sara said.
They started with the main floor, Sara showed Nick the living room, dining room and the kitchen. There was a bedroom that was for relatives or family friends near the living room. They went upstairs to look at the other rooms. The first room on the floor that Sara showed Nick was her old bedroom now a yoga studio. Then she showed him the meditation room that used to be her brother's bedroom. Finally, she took him to a tacky looking master bedroom. It looked somebody threw a few totally mismatched pieces of furniture that should have never gone together and painted clashing colors on the wall. Yes, there are pieces of furniture that don't usually match, but look great together and complement each other well. However, it lacks that sense of cohesiveness.
"Sara, I want to take another look at your former bedroom," Nick said.
"Why would you want to do that?" Sara asked.
"I want to see what it was like for you to grow up here," Nick said. "I know there aren't traces of your room left there after it became a yoga studio."
"Go right ahead," Sara said. "I stay in my parents' room to see what possessed them to hire the worst interior decorator in the San Francisco area."
Nick lightly chuckled and left hideous looking bedroom. He went inside the yoga studio that was once his girlfriend's bedroom. What was it like for a little girl to play with her toys in there? What about a high school aged girl hanging out with her friends or lying on the bed dreaming about her latest crush? Or sleeping after an exhausting cross country flight from Boston to San Francisco for Thanksgiving break or intercession?
"Shut up, asshole!" a voice said nearly making Nick jump.
"What did you say?" he turned around, saw the green bird perched on a bar and knew that it was Fowl Mouth.
"Fuck you, dickhead!" the parrot said.
"You must be the infamous Fowl Mouth my girlfriend and her parents told me about," Nick said.
"You are full of shit!" the bird exclaimed.
"Can't you say 'Polly want a cracker'?" Nick asked.
"Fowl Mouth wants to fuck you!" the parrot screamed and Nick started to lose some of his civility he tried very hard to maintain.
"Now listen to me," Nick said between his teeth. "You are lucky I didn't bring my gun with me or quoting Monty Python, you would be an ex-parrot."
"What a jackass!" Fowl Mouth shouted.
Fowl Mouth flapped his wing and flew towards Nick, but he left the room immediately before the bird could attack him or perch on his shoulder. Nick went to the master bedroom to find Sara, but she wasn't there. He went downstairs and found her sitting at the dining room table. The smell of freshly made cornbread on the table made him sit down. There was also a tea set for two with piping hot herbal tea.
"Where are your parents?" Nick asked.
"They went to the Bed and Breakfast to see how things are running," Sara said. "It's like they're inspecting something. Nick, you look like you've seen a ghost."
"I saw Fowl Mouth in your old room and he nearly attacked me," Nick said. "I'm fine, just shaken up slightly."
"I am glad you are fine," Sara smiled. "Next time, punch the parrot in the beak real hard to stop him from attacking you."
"This coming from an animal rights activist," Nick chuckled.
"My activism doesn't extend to Fowl Mouth," Sara smirked. "You want to know his age. He is 33 years old, just as old as Warrick. When my cousin had that crazy bird, I would visit them and had my fair share of battle scars. My brother had to get stitches and a course of antibiotics because of one person versus bird altercation. Don't feel you are the only one facing the Wrath of Parrot."
"I am not worried about that," Nick smiled. "Here's an unrelated question for you. Do your parents have coffee here?"
"No, they aren't really coffee drinkers," Sara said. "There is coffee at the Bed and Breakfast though."
"I kind of know why you are a coffee drinker besides needing the caffeine rush for work," Nick said.
"Nick, I do drink tea at times," Sara insisted.
"I know you do," Nick said quietly.
"Cornbread is delicious," Sara commented. "The orange honey butter goes well with it."
"I am used to eating the skillet style," Nick said. "However, this version is good. The tea isn't bad either."
They finished their tea and the small amount of cornbread her mom gave them. As soon as her parents returned, they talk briefly before Nick and Sara left to return to their room at the Bed and Breakfast. They rested and discussed their dinner plans.
TBC